Brain circuits and dynamics for memory consolidation

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Each instant of our lives is unique, and can be potentially remembered for our entire lifespan. How does the brain manage to form a lasting imprint of life episodes that happened only once? It is now established that sleep plays a crucial role in strengthening recently formed memories. During this offline' state, the brain selects and reprocesses information that is the most relevant for future use. The hippocampus is a brain region that is essential for the temporary storage of new information by establishing a memory trace in one-shot'. After a period of maturation, that could range from days to years, memories are eventually stored in the neocortex. During sleep, neuronal patterns associated with new memories are replayed in the hippocampus and its cortical targets, suggesting that the repetition of these neuronal ensembles in the hippocampus enables the formation of permanent memory trace in the cortex. Therefore, the communication between the hippocampus and the cortex is believed to be a fundamental mechanism of memory consolidation, yet how information is routed to and from the hippocampus remains largely unknown. The thalamus relays neuronal signal between cortical areas, in particular between the hippocampal formation and cortical areas. Our research program aims to investigate the dynamical coordination of the hippocampus, the neocortex and the thalamus underlying the formation of new memories. ******The brain is, by essence, a dynamical system and exhibits oscillatory patterns during wakefulness and sleep that spans orders of magnitude of time scales. During sleep, the replay of recent memories in the hippocampus are coordinated by oscillations of the thalamo-cortical network to enable an optimal communication between these brain structures, but the underlying neuronal processes are still largely unknown. We will thus address this question by investigating the role of these oscillations in memory. To achieve these goals, we will use a combination of cutting-edge experimental techniques, including multi-channel electrophysiology and genetic tools in freely moving mice, as well as advanced analytical methods to quantify the dynamics of brain networks. In conclusion, this program will shed light on the dynamics of brain networks that enable the formation and strengthening of new memories in the brain.**